Equalizing attachment for trucks



L \m. e a l mu m u 5 wwvv y\ mwhN m .dv-roezvasy "A May 14, 1935. I. E. BLAIR EQUALIZING ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1931 May 14, 1935.

I. E. BLAIR E UAL MING ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS is d 20/1951 '5 Sheets-Sheet? l/v z/Elv Toe 1 [a4 5. 54 1g.

Ma 14, 1935. E, BLAIR 2,000,914

EQUALIZING ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1951 3 Sheegs-Sheet 3 Patent y 14, 1935 I 2,000,914

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE -1- EQUAI IZI NG For; rations I H v- I Ira Er-Blair, Loo Angeleq, Application November 20, 1931, Serial No.

*Renewed Augult 20.1934 k 15 Claim; (01. 286-104 My invention relates to spring supporting means tion will be disclosed in the following part 01 the for vehicles and relates particularly to load disspecification, I q tributing means for vehicles having more than I Referring to the drawings, which are for illus' a single pair of wheels grouped together under trative purposes only, 7 g one portion of the vehicle chassis. Fig. l is apartly sectioned elevational view 1 5 It is an object of the invention to provide a showing apreierred form of my invention in use spring construction for six-wheel type vehicles with two pairsot'wheels atthe rear end of a which will eflect a desireddis'tribution of load truck chassiszf. l from the rearward portion of the truck to the Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on a plane four wheels situated thereunder. represented by the line 2-, 2 of Fig. 10

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Fig. 3isa cross tion through the load-provide a simple and eiIective load-proportioning portioning .deviceofmyinvention, this "section means which may be used in six-wheel'vehicle being taken on a plane represented by the line construction and which will occupy aminimum 3-4 of Fig. 2.

5 space so that the axles supporting the wheels at Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on a plane re;

the rear end of the vehicle may be placed 'relapresented by the line 4-4 of 1.

tively closetogether. Rocker arms have been em- Fig. 5 is a cross section on a plane represented" ployed for this purpose, but due to-the relatively by the line 55 of Fig. 1. y large space required for such rocker arms, the Fig. 6 is a vertically sectioned view showing axles of the wheels must be separated or the analternative form of load-proportioning means. 20

springs must be shortened. My invention gives Fig. 7 is a vertically sectioned view showing a satisfactory equalization or load distribution another form oI'load-proportioning means.

with the axles at a minimum distance and with Fig, 8 is a cross section on a plane represented the springs maintained at full length so that satby the line H of Fig. 7.

isfactory riding conditions are maintained. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view show- It is a further object of the invention to proing aload distributor including cylinder-piston vide a spring construction for vehicles in which members hinged to the chassis of a vehicle.

two spring members are placed in end-to-end Fig. 101s a plan view of the rear end of a vehirelationship and with a load-transmitting device cle showing another method or mounting equalconnecting the adjacent ends of the springs with izing or load-proportioning devices. 30 the vehicle chassis, this load-transmitting device Fig. 11'is an elevational view corresponding to being adapted to proportion the load received from Fig. 10. the chassis in such a manner that a greater part In Figil of the drawings I show the rear end of such load is transmitted to one of the pair of of a vehicle chassis Ii supported by a front pair springs. 01 wheels indicated at I! and a rear pair of 35 It is afurther object of the invention to provide wheels indicated at one of t a pa o i a device of the above character which will main- Wheels n being l'emdved t0 f W y mp v d tain a desired proportioning of the load supplied 5111191? manner of flflxlbly Securing an 5 to to the springs regardless of uneven contour of the sprmg The 591mg is one Of wmch road surface over which the vehicle is traveling. supports the axle which axle in tum It is a further object of the invention to proports the rear pair of wheels Ahead or to vide a simple load-proportioning means for transa the left the spring of I Show spring l6 which is one of a pair of springs supporting mlttmgaload m unequsil froma'chas' an axle or axle housing 11 which in turn supsis to a number of vehicle springs.

,. A further object of the invention is to provide g z z gg ggf gf zg gf g fis load'propol'tioning equalizing v c having adjacent or outer ends I! thereof are secured especial cushioning qualities so as to make 9, veflexibly to the chassis by spring.supporting hicle, su h a a bus, equipped therewith Very bers 20 which are adapted to connect the ends smoo h ri n A feature 0! this form f the ni8 0! the springs l5 and ii to the chassis in such 50 vention is that the d vi e includes a pair 01' 0111- a manner that the springs may rotate freely on inder-piston members connected with a cushion, a longitudinal axis relative to the chassis should chamber in which a body of air is maintained una twist be placed on either of thesprings due to der pressure. one of the pair 0! wheels being moved into a Further objects and advantages of the inven higher or lower plane than the other wheel of 55 It and hasdownwardly extending arms II which 1 are spaced apart in lateral direction and are providedwithopeningsflonaiateralaxisfor roceivingalateralpintlwbicheulal labearing Ilsecuredinaloopllontheendilofaspring Thebearingllandtheendllofthe of the downwardly faced cievis ".and the pin tiissecuredintheopenlnflllbymeansof bolts ll. Each'spring II or It mayrotate rela tiveto the longitudinal axisestabllshedby the pinll,andtheendltofsuehsprimmayrotate on a'lateral axis deilned by the pin ll; therefore theconnectionottheouterendaltofthesprings tothechassis il isuniversalin'character. The end II 0! each spring llzis adjacent the end I ofaspring lt,andtheseadiacentendall and ltofthesprings "and ltareconnectedto. the chassis l I through a load distributor II which isinthecharacterofanequaliserbutwhichdis tributes aload from the chassis unequally to the adjacent ends ll and I of the springs II and.

My preferred form load distributor II, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, includes a bracket or thrustmemberflvv issecuredtotheside member I! of the ii and has downwardly extending arms 43 and u at the lower end thereof which ,carry a horizontal, laterally directed shaft 4! on which a pulley member 46 having a bearing 41 is rotatably mounted. 0n the ends 3! and I. of the springs." and II shackles II and II of identical form are mounted on laterally extending pins II which pass through loops l2 formed at tile ends ll and II of the springs II and it! 'hoftheshacklesll and is has downwardlyextending webs l3 and I which support a cross ll of somewhat cylindrical form and having three central grooves ii and two pairs of end groovesll, the central grooves it being adapted to receive three cable loops It, and each pair of end grooves II being adapted to receive a pair of cable loops I. To prevent the cable loops from coming out of the grooves, hold-down plates, such as shown at ii, are employed. The rotary element or pulley it consists of partslfland t3, the part I! being a pulley of large diameter and having six grooves 84 therein adapted to receive the ends I! of the 0 cable loops it, and the parts it consisting of relatively smaller pulleys, each having four grooves t6 therein for receiving the lower ends ii of the cable loops I. The large and small pulleys i2 andflareconnectedtogethersoastoforma single rotary element or pulley 48. Outstanding walls It and II, as shown mm. 3, extend across the peripheries of the pulleys and between the flanges It and II thereof. The walls II and II have openings I! therein which respectively receive the extremities It and 11' of the cable loops SI and II, such cable extremities being secured in the openings II in the customary manner 01' securing cable ends. The cable loops I and the shackle ll provide a flexible means for connecting the end II of the spring I! to the larger pulley 02, and the cable loops til with the shackle ll provide flexible means for connecting the end 3! of the spring I to the smaller pulleys CI. The load or downward thrust from the chassis ll, transmitted through the bracket or thrust member II, is distributed or transmitted to the spring ends II and it in unequal proportions determined by the diameters of the pulleys 62 and II, with the result that the downward pressure transmittedtothespringendsflandtlisunequal. One mean for distributing the load unequally betweenthe trontandrearpairsof wheels I! and II ism that a greater portion of the load will be placed on the wheels II, which are the driving wheels of the vehicle. The spring ends it and it are guided vertically by rollers III which aremounted onpins ill securedinlugs I32 extending upwardly from the shackles I and II, these roliersbearingagainstaverticalwall I ofthe bracket 42 so that the bracket will be guided vertically thereby and prevent lateral motion of the adiacent ends of the springs.

In Fig. 6 I show another form of load distribu tor II for use in connecting the spring ends SI and I. to the chassis and for transmitting-unequal loads thereto. This distributor ll consists ofabody ll adaptedtobesecuredtothechassis member 22 and having walls forming substantially vertical cylinders 82 and I8 therein in which pistons 84 and l! are vertically slidable, these pistons being respectively connected through clevis-like connecting rods 88 and I1 to the spring ends SI and I, there being rubber bumpers for limiting the downward movement of the spring ends II and It. In the cylinders Q2 and 83 above the pistons I4 and I! are bodies of oil It, and in the upper interconnected ends of the cylinders is an air space OI. The cylinder 82 and the piston II are larger in diameter than the cylinder II and the piston therefore. the downward thrust exerted on the spring end It will be greater than the downward thrust onthe spring end 3! in proportion to the cross sectional areas of the pistons and cylinders.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I show still another form of load distributor including vertically movable members lll interconnected by gear means I in such a manner that the load from the chassis will be delivered to the spring ends 35 and It in desired proportions. The members it consist of hollow bodies It received in vertical guides II of a bracket l4 and having racks t! and a thereon for engaging the gear means 8i which is rotatable on a shaft 06 extended between the back of the bracket l4 and the cover plate 98 of the bracket .4. The interiors of the bodies 02 form cylinders I in which plungers or pistons I" are vertically slidable. By means of shackles Ill extending downwardly from wrist pins III of the pistons ill, connection is made with the loops 5! on the spring ends II and it. The pistons II are provided with sealing means such as cup leathers ill, and bodies of oil III are placed above the pistons Ill so as to form seals for preventing escape of air from the upper spaces of the cylinders ll, such air being pumped into the upper rotateinunisonontheshaft". Thesmaligear engagestherack05,andthelargegearengages the rack 050, thus serving as a means for pro-' portioning between the spring ends 35 and 35 the load'which is delivered from the chassis to the gear means -0I through the shaft 00.

A further featureoi' my construction resides in a simple method of flexibly securing axle structures to the springs of avehicle, such feature being clearly represented by the manner in which the axle I4 which supports the rear wheels- I3 is secured to the springs I5, see Figs. 1 and 5. One of the springs I5 has a saddle I20 which engages one end of the axle I4 in such a manner that the axle will not rotate relative to the righthand spring I5 shown in Fig. 5. To accomplish this manner of securing the rightward end of the axle I4 to the rightward spring II, the rightward end of the axle I4 may be left square so as to be immovably clamped when the bolts HI and I2Ia are drawn up right. The left end of the axle is turned to cylindrical form, as indicated at I22, and a spring shackle I23 having a hole I24 of round cross section therethrough surrounds the cylindrical portion I22 with such :looseness that the leftward end of the axle I4 may turn within the shackle I23. Thefunction of this flexible axle mounting is.to relieve strains on theaxles and the springs I5 due to one of the springs I5 being swung upwardly or downwardly to a greater extent than the other'of the springs I5 due to a wheel I3 dropping into a hollow in the road or riding over a bump while the other wheel I3 remains on its original plane of travel.

In Fig. 9 I show the adjacent spring ends 35 and 36 connected to the chassis II by a loadproportioning or equalizing device I30 especially suited for use with vehicles carrying passengers for the reason that this device incorporates an improved cushioning means. The device I30 employs a bracket I3I which is secured to the chassis II and has lateral extensions I32 projecting outwardly from the upper portion thereof for receiving bolts or pins I33 by which cylinder members I34 are hingedly secured to the bracket I3I. The cylinder members I34 each include a cylindrical wall I35 having a lateral opening I36 in the lower end vthereoLan upper end wall I31, and a cap or stop member I36 on the lower end thereof. In each cylinder member a piston I40 is vertically slidable, this piston having a sealing means I4I on the upper end thereof in the form of a cup washer, together with a body I42 of rubber to serve as a bumper. Each piston I40 is connected to a spring end 35 or 36 by means of a cross pin I39 secured in the lower end of the piston. A portion I43 of the piston wall is thickened, and a vertical hole I 44 is drilled therein to receive a plunger rod I45 which has its lower end secured to the piston member I40 so as to be held stationary. In the upper end of the hole I44 is a check valve I46, and leading into the side of the hole I44 is an air inlet opening I41. A hollow body I50 serves as a cushion chamber, and the ends thereof are connected to the upper ends of the cylinder members I34 by means of flexible conduits I 5I. Through an air inlet valve I52 air or gas is initially pumped into the member I50 and through the flexible conduits I5I into the spaces in the cylinder members I34 above the pistons I40, to such pressure that the pistons I40 will be forced downwardly into working positions such as shown in Fig. 9. A pressure release regulator I54 connected with the member I50 may be set to prevent the pressure within the member 3 I50 from exceeding a predetermined value. As

the vehicle travels slow the road, the pistons I40 move vertically in the cylinder members I34 'and relative to the stationary plunger rods I45 so that the plunger rods I45 perform"a-continu-1 ouspumping action. forcing a'small amount of air into the spaces within the upper ends ofthe cylinder members to compensate for any losses of air. .Any excess of pressure pumped into the cylinder members I34 by the plunger rods-I45 will be released through the pressure releaser I54. The especial features of this construction are thatthe' load-proportioning or equalizing means may be secured to the adjacent ends of spring members which are placed in close relationship; that the downwardpressures exerted against the adjacent ends of the springs will be proportioned inaccordance with the diameters of the pistons to which they are connectedja'nd that the'shocks due to travel over road surfaces will be very eflectively cushioned in their transmission from the spring ends 35 and 35 to the bracket I3I which is in turn :secured to the chassis II. By use of a cushioning body of air in the cushion chamber I50, a relatively "long vertical travel of the pistons in'the cylinder mcm-" bers I34 is accomplished for the reason that the volume of air contained in the member I50 is of such size that the decrease in volume of the total amount of air in the equalizer or proportioning device due to upward movement of the pistons I40 will not be proportionately great, and therefore the increase of air pressure due to such decrease in air volume will not be large enough to cause abrupt shocks to be transmitted to the chassis of the vehicle.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I show the manner in which the cushioning load equalizer or proportioning cylinders shown in Fig. 9 maybe employed at the outer ends of vehicle springs or at any selected ends thereof, as may be desired, instead of between adjacent ends. A chassis I60 is supported by a pair of wheels I5I carried on axle I62 and a pair of wheels I03 carried on anaxle housing I64; the axle I02 and the'axle housing I64 being respectively secured to the chassis I60 by leaf springs I65 and I66, which springs are secured to the under sides of the members I 62 and I64 so as to provide an increased space between these springs and the level of the chassis I60. As shown in Fig. ll,the adjacent ends I61 of the leaf springs are pivotally connected to the chassis by means of bracket plates I60 which project downwardly. The outer ends I10 of the springs I65 and I60 are secured to cylinder-- piston means I1I of the character shown in-Fig. 9, which cylinder-piston means "I are hinged to mounting plates I12 at I13. In Fig. 10 I show cushion reservoirs I15 and I16 from which conduits I11 and I10 extend rearwardly along the chassis and are respectively connected to the left-hand and right-hand cylinder-piston devices "I byflexible conduits'I00. Pipes III and I02 extend forwardly from the reservoirs I15 and I10 to pressure gauges I03 and I04 which may be mounted on the dash of the vehicle. Connected to the pressure gauges are adjustable pressure releasevalves I05 and I05 for controlling the maximum pressures which may be maintained in the separate reservoirs I 15 and I16. Should one side of the vehicle be loaded heavier than the other side, the pressure in the cylinder-piston means I" at such side may be maintained at a higher value by proper regulation of the associated pressure release valve I05 or I00. Any ex- .In this form the invention, as in the form or the invention shown inFig. 9, a cushioned and easy riding condition and a proper equalization of the load transmitted to the wheels are accomplished;

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized thatcertain parts or elements thereof are representative of. other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may employed in substantially the same manner o accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the-invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Spring mechanism of the character dem scribed, including: achassis member; a pair 01" springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing theouter ends oi said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor secured to said chassis in proximity to the adjacent ends of said springs, said load distributor including shackles on said adjacent ends of said springs having cable-receiving bars, cable loops extending over said cable-receiving bars, and a pulley member rotatably secured to said chassis, .the ends of said cable loops being secured to peripheral portions of said pulley member at unequal distancm from the axis of rotation thereoi so as to transmit unequal loads to said adjacent ends of said springs.

2. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair of connected pulley members of unequal diameters, means for rotatably connecting said pulley members to said chassis member, and a complement of relatively small flexible cables connecting each of said pulley members to one of saidadjacent ends of said springs, to transmit said load unequally to said adjacent ends of said springs.

3. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a'chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair of connected pulley members oi unequal diameters, means for rotatably connecting said pulley members to said chassis member, and flexible members connecting peripheral portions of said pulley members to said adjacent ends of said springs, to transmit said load unequally to said adjacent ends of said springs.

4. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means iorsecuring the outer ends or said springs to said chassis member; and aload distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair of connected pulley members of unequal diameters, means for rotatably connecting said pulley members to said chassis membar, and cables connecting peripheral portions of said pulley members to said adjacent ends of said springs, to transmit unequally to said;

adjacent ends of said springs.

5. Spring mechanism of the character described. including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member;

and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair oi. connected rotary elements 01 unequal diameter,

means rotatably connecting said elements to said 10 ameter, means rotatably connecting said elements.

to said chassis member, and flexible means connecting peripheral portions or said elements to said adjacent ends of said springs, to transmit said load unequally to said adjacent ends of said springs. I

7. Spring mechanism of the character described,

including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member, said means being adapted to permit a tree lateral and longitudinal rotation of said springs relative to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair of connected rotary elements of unequal diameter, means rotatably connecting said elements to said chassis member,

and parts connecting peripheral portions of said elements to said adjacent ends or said springs, to transmit said load unequally to said adjacent ends of said springs.

8. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, said distributor having a pair of connected rotary elements of unequal diameter, means rotatably connecting said elements to said chassis member, and parts connecting peripheral portions of said elements to said adjacent ends of said springs, to transmit said load unequally to said adjacent ends of said springs.

9. Spring mechanism of the character described.

including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member, said means being adapted to permit a free lateral and longitudinal rotation of said springs relative to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends of said springs, and to said chassis member, said distributor having a pulley member rotatably connected to said chassis member and cables secured to said pulley member at different radial distances from the axis of rotation thereof and to the adjacent ends of said springs.

10. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis; a pair of springs on one side of said chassis; a pair of springs on the opposite side of' said chassis, each of said pairs of springs being in end-to-end relationship 7 with their adjacent ends close together; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis; a load distributor for each pair of said springs, each of said distributors comprising a pulley member so connected to said chassis as to receive a load therefrom and flexible members connected to said springs and connected to said pulley member at unequal distances from the axis of rotation thereof so as to distribute said load in predetermined proportions to the adjacent ends of a pair of said springs; wheels for said chassis; and a wheel-supporting axle structure extending across and secured to one of said springs on one side of said chassis and one of said springs on the opposite side of said chassis, one end of said axle structure being secured to one of said springs in a manner to rotate relative to such spring on an axis lateral with respect to said chassis, and the other end 0! said axle structure being non-rotatably secured to the other of said springs.

11. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis; a pair of springs on one side of said chassis; a pair of springs on the opposite side of said chassis, each of said pairs of springs being in end-to-end relationship with their adjacent ends close together; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chasis; a load distributor for each pair of said springs, each of said distributors comprising a pulley member so connected to said chassis as to receive a load therefrom and flexible members connected to said springs and connected to said pulley member at unequal distances from the axis of rotation thereof so as to distribute said load in predetermined proportions to the adjacent ends of a pair of said springs; wheels for said chassis; and a wheel-supporting axle structure extending across and secured to one of said springs on one side of said chassis and one of said springs on the opposite side of said chassis, one end of said axle structure being secured to one of said springs in a manner to rotate relative to such spring on an axis lateral with respect to said chassis. I

12. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; a load distributor for connecting the adjacent ends of said springs to said chassis member, said distributor including a member rotatably secured to said chassis member and connecting means extending from said adjacent ends of said springs to points on said rotatable member disposed at difierent radial distances from the center of rotation of said rotatable member; and means for vertically guiding said adjacent ends of said springs relative to a vertical longitudinal plane.

13. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; a load distributor for connecting the adjacent ends of said springs to said chassis member, said distributor including a member rotatably secured to said chassis member and connecting means extending from said adjacent ends of said springs to points on said rotatable member disposed at difierent radial distances from the center of rotation of said rotatable mem-- ber; and roller means for vertically guiding said adjacent ends of said springs relative to a vertical longitudinal plane.

14. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair of springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor secured to said chassis in proximity to the adjacent ends of said springs, said loaddistributor including a pulley member rotatably secured tosaid chassis member, shackles on said adjacent ends of said springs having cable-receiving bars, andcable loops extending over said cable-receiving bars and secured to peripheral portions of said pulley member, there being means for holding said cable loops at unequal distances from the axis of said pulley member.

15. Spring mechanism of the character described, including: a chassis member; a pair 01' springs in end-to-end relationship; means for securing the outer ends of said springs to said chassis member; and a load distributor connected to the adjacent ends or said springs, said distributor comprising a rotary member rotatably secured to said chassis member, a pair or flexible members each of which has one end secured to said rotary member and the other end secured to an adjacent spring end, and means for holding said flexible members at diilerent distances from the axis of rotation of said rotary member, whereby to transmit unequal loads to said adjacent ends of said springs.

IRA E. BLAIR. 

